I thought it marvelous that they have not lost their human dignity despite the indescribable ordeal they went through

- Who

Pope Francis- When

On August 18, 2014 / At Myeong-dong Cathedral in Seoul

- What

As for Pope Francis, who made a 5-day visit to Korea last year, he marveled at the fact that the comfort women and other Koreans have not lost their human dignity despite the deep pain they had to endure during the Japanese imperialists’ aggression and colonial rule, in an interview with reporters during his return flight to Rome.

The Pope met with and consoled some of the surviving comfort women, who are now in their late 80s or early 90s, at a Mass held at Myeong-dong Cathedral in Seoul on August 18th, 2014, as the last leg of his visit to South Korea.

During the interview, the Pope said that their presence reminded him of the cruelty of war. He added, “I thought it marvelous that they have not lost their human dignity despite the indescribable ordeal they went through. I felt the same about other Koreans as people who experienced the humiliation of being subjected to harsh colonial rule”